Since then, many industry watchers have estimated that Microsoft will sell Kinect for $150 when it launches November 4. Even Best Buy, Amazon.com, and Wal-Mart, three major gaming retailers, have put the $150 price tag on Kinect listings on their respective Web sites.

So far, though, Microsoft officially has been mum on Kinect's price tag.

Realizing this, it is rather surprising to see that Microsoft's online store is now listing Kinect for $149.99.

That said, the figure should be taken with a grain of salt. Microsoft has yet to publicly confirm Kinect's price and has not immediately responded to a request for price confirmation. There is also the possibility that the price will change before the peripheral is released.

Stephen Toulouse, Microsoft's director of policy and enforcement for Xbox Live, said Monday in a tweet that "all prices now, no matter what the retail source, are placeholders."

Regardless of the questionable price, if you're keen on Kinect, several online retail sites--including Microsoft's--are now accepting preorders.

About the author

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
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